South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1887-08-12
SCIENTIFIC sCRAra

A recent computation makes the vcloc-
ny Of the solar system in space only
about 10000, 900 miles n year. By =
different method another computer has
determined the rate to be about Cos 600. :
600 miles in year.
Gaivanoplarty is new species of en-
baiming, by which one Kcrssvatz pro-
poses TO fransform our deceased friends
into statues Of natural size. Zinc. cop
per, gold or silver is to he used over n
layer Of plumbago for finishing touch.
An instance of the value of photo
graphy IN detecting the relative motion
Oh stars Is given by NJ. de Gothard.
comparison Of recent photograph with
measures recorded by Vogcl in 1867 go
appears to show that cluster All G.. c.
contains an eleventh magnitude star
which has changed its position relatively
to the other stars to the extent of ca
seconds year
Some time ago, electric lights were
placed in front Of the treasury and other
public buildings in Washington. and n
curious result has been an extraordinary
congregation of spiders webs. These
cunning animals have discovered that
game, in the form of flies, moths and so
on, is very abundant near the electric
light, owing to the attraction it has for
some insects; and, hence, their webs are
In some parts SO thick that portions of
the architectural ornamcntation are no
longer visible.
During the cutting of peat in moss
nj Vevang, near the town of Christian
sund, IN the northwest of Norway, the
workmen recently dug out log Of oak
over twelve feet i'm length and about
four feet in diameter. 1t was found at n
depth of nine feet. The trunk and root
Oh great oak tree were unearthed i'm
the same moss some years ago, so it is
concluded that there was once an oak
forest III this spot. The remains of the
oak were found below LAYER in the bog
In which remains of frs are often found
"A twentythrec foot vein of what
promises to be valuable kind of fuel
has been discovered at Elsinore Cal,
and 1T is thought that the whole valley
is undcrlaid with il. 1t is described by
The News of that place ms quite soft.
and easily worked when IN the mine,
but 1T gets hard when exposed to the
AIR. Ii resembles slate somewhat i'm an
pearancc, although of u somewhat light
er color. 1t is clean, leaves no marks or
stains on the hand, does not slack or
crumblc in the air, can be split like
mica into very thin fibrcs, burns freely,
and needs only to he ignited with n
match, smells like burning rubber when
being consumed, and leaves behind a let
black ash resembling lampblack in all its
properties. 1t is said to be worth SI5
per ton for making gas.
You sometimes see shells along our
shores having hole i'm their side. This
hole is perfectly round, and is bevelled
or countcr-sunk. 1t seems to have been
made artificially, and with great care.
How Is 1T to he accounted for? Another
shell, the common cookie, which is found
IN great numbers all along our shores,
has done the mischief. 1t has n tongue
furnished with rows of teeth, giving it
resemblance to a file. When the little
creature is hungry, it finds another shell
containing living inhabitant. 1t at
once fastcns itself to it, and by means of
its teeth-covercd tongue commences
boring or filing hole, and continues at
this employment until it has gotten
through the shell to the living inhabi-
tant within. This is what it was after.
1t has found its food, and can now at its
leisure make its meal.